wolfhoundwitch

𝑹𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚 — 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚/𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 — 23 — 𝒉𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕. 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 @𝐦𝟎𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐜

366 posts

Airmed Deity Guide

Who is Airmed?

Airmed, also spelled Airmid is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and an Irish goddess with all of the knowledge of herbalism. She is mentioned in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh as she healed those who were injured in the battle. Airmed is one of the deities whose incantations was said to resurrect the dead when sung over the Well of Sláine.

Parents and Siblings

Her father is Dian Cecht, the god of medicine and healing

Her brother is Miach

Cethen

Cian

Étan the poet

Ochtriullach (Octriuil)

Lovers or Partners

None or not mentioned

Children

None or not mentioned

Epithets

None mentioned, though her name may be an epithet of a forgotten name itself

Notes

Following the death of her brother caused by their own father due to his jealousy over his son’s healing talents, Airmed goes to visit the grave of Miach. There she found 365 herbs and was taught their secrets to healing. She spread out her cloak and began to organize them but before she could finish the task her father found her. Jealous again of his child’s talents he picked up the cloak and scattered the herbs, leaving their sacred knowledge lost to history. Only Airmed remembers all of the herbalist knowledge.

The significance of the number 365 may have been as such: “one for each of his joints and sinews, one for each day of the year, one for each illness that ever had been or ever would be.” (Story Archeology)

Well of Sláine essentially translates to “Well of Health”

Airmed and Miach are both etymologically linked to measurements of grain or cereal. Airmed is more of a measurement and Miach is more of the thing being measured (Story Archeology).

In Old Irish, there were no distinctions made between herbs and vegetables and they were generally all considered “useful plants”.

This would make sense as Airmed’s story involves her organizing and counting these useful plants.

I HIGHLY suggest you look into Story Archeology because the hosts of the podcast go into detail about the etymology and possible meanings behind the story of Airmed.

Modern Deity Work

Keep in mind that due to the very little information left about Airmed, most of this modern deity work will be influenced by those who work with her in modern times.

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Quartz, amethyst, opal, agate (moss agate), jasper, silver

Herbs/Plants

You could argue that all of them—or at least 365 of them—correspond to Airmed as she is an herbalist

Healing herbs specifically

Self Heal (prunella vulgaris)

Animals

Snakes (sometimes associated with healing as well as waters in Celtic mythology)

Symbol

Mortar and Pestle

Healing Wells

Offerings

Herbs, especially those native to Ireland

Donate to local medical facilities

Any of the above

Acts of Devotion

Learn Herbalism

Practice healing or medicine

Pay respects to those in medical careers

Volunteer at medical centers

Possibly looking into necromancy as she is known to bring the dead back to life (though this is a stretch)

References and Further Reading

Most of these are going to be UPG or similar and not based much in history but I’m trying to add as many as possible for those interested in further looking into this diety.

Airmid (Wiki)

Airmed the Celtic Goddess (Claudia Merill)

Airmid (Amino)

Mythical Women 04: The Story of Airmed (Story Archeology Podcast)

The Celtic Goddess Airmid (The Cottage Mystic)